Evaluation of Unbonded Jointed Concrete Overlays

Castro Pérez, Jesús; Bhardwaj, Richa; Roesler, Jeffery

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/129107 Copy

Description

Title

Evaluation of Unbonded Jointed Concrete Overlays

Author(s)

• Castro Pérez, Jesús
• Bhardwaj, Richa
• Roesler, Jeffery

Issue Date

2025-09

Keyword(s)

• Concrete Overlay
• Pavement
• Fibers
• Interlayer
• Geotextile
• Falling Weight Deflectometer
• International Roughness Index
• Nondestructive Testing
• Performance

Date of Ingest

2025-09-29T16:13:45-05:00

Abstract

Concrete overlays for existing concrete and asphalt roads have been shown to be a viable rehabilitation or replacement option. This research project evaluated three unbonded concrete overlay (UBOL) projects in Illinois with high, medium, and very low truck volumes. The project’s goal was to assess each overlay’s performance including the influence of the interlayer. The project scope included distress surveys, evaluations of interlayer contact conditions through shear wave ultrasound tomography, assessments of structural response through falling weight deflectometer testing, profilometer testing, and core extractions. The findings from the UBOL performance study showed that nonwoven geotextile fabric (NWGF) can be an effective interlayer for concrete overlays under certain conditions. For thin UBOLs, even with macrofibers, steel tie bars should be used across the lane-shoulder joint to maintain shear transfer across a contraction joint or to limit construction joint opening. UBOLs with hot-mix asphalt (HMA) interlayers have historically provided good performance, which was seen in all three projects. For thinner UBOLs, slab geometry, interlayer type and transverse profile, and drainage must be considered in the overlay design. The I-72 eastbound section exhibited 3.8% longitudinal cracks (low severity) at transverse joints in the driving lane after 10 years, which has been linked to a combination of water in the joints, repeated truck loading, and debonding and low severity stripping of the HMA interlayer. For overlays with very few trucks (East Grand Road), the 6-inch slab and 11 feet by 12 feet slab size and the exclusion of dowel across transverse joints did not adversely impact UBOL performance.

Publisher

Illinois Center for Transportation/Illinois Department of Transportation

Has Part

ISSN: 0197-9191

Series/Report Name or Number

FHWA-ICT-25-009

Type of Resource

text

Genre of Resource

technical report

Language

eng

DOI

https://doi.org/10.36501/0197-9191/25-009

Sponsor(s)/Grant Number(s)

IDOT-R27-SP74

Copyright and License Information

No restrictions. This document is available through the National Technical Information Service, Springfield, VA 22161.

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